Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-04

and quietly dropped into the water and
were not missed. Grace went out as far
as she could, and kept her head above
water. She thought with pang that the
papers would be wet. but they were we'll
tied. ard any way they would not ourn.
So she tried to take comfort though an
awful fear had come upon her that she
could never see her parents again.
Then. too, she remembered that no one
knew she had gone. nor where 10 look for
her. and though she had thought only of
being brave, she found she had been fool
ish. ..But the papers are safe, and papa
will be glad" was the thought that al
WAYS came to comfort her despair.
At last, after hours of agony and terror
and distress. with groans and cries ana
PRAYERS in strange confusion. such as no
one can imagine who did not pass through
it, when many thought the world was
burning up. and all had little hope of get
ting out alive, the fire burned itself out IN
that part of the city, and swept on to the
north.
1t was late in the afternoon before the
weary. hungry, fainting fugitives ventured
to crawl out of the lake, wiring what wa
ter they could out of their clothes. and set
out to find spot on the earth where there
was no FIRE. if such spot there was.
Grace Joined in the rush over the heated
earth, water pouring from her clothes at
! first but soon dried in the heat around her.
Home and papa's package was her only
thought now, but where was home? As
soon as she reached the pavements she saw
that she was hopelessly lost. Where was
Dearborn street, Where was Clark street
All was alike unacceptable. Every
house was burned, lamp posts. street
signs, all leveled with the ground. She
looked upon smoking and steamlng
wilderness, and as she turned her face
towards where her home should be, and
saw vast wall of fire marching steadily
on. she knew she had no home in the
world And where then were father and
mother. The awful desolation that swept
over the poor little soul in that terrible
moment is something too horrible for YOU
to imagine. Be thankful that it is. She
would have sunk under the weight of
despair but for the thought OF the precious
package. For that she moved on-"l
must save it," her constant thought.
Papa will be dishonored without it, y
and the poor tired feet hurried on. she
knew not where.
From that part OF the city, the only way
of reaching the West Side. where was no
fire, was over certain bridge. Gradually
the stream OF people, of whom Grace was
one. drew near the bridge, in whose mar
row passage horrors were taking place all
the time The broad street had hardly
room for flyino people in wagons and
carriages of every sort; when then the
way grew barrow. there was "a terrible
struggle for place. Heavy wagons piled
high with furniture crashed ruthlessly into
carriages OF people; furniture tell and
blocked the way; vehicles were disabled
and abandoned ; frightened horses let loose
to trample at their pleasure; people with
loads thrown down feeble women pressed
to the wall All the worst of human pas
sions were let loose. and men became
fiends in the mad struggle for safety and
life.
AS Grace reached the place, almost
crushed in the crowd, a strong man be-
hind her spoke kindly.
"Mv poor lad he said, you'll be
killed in that jam; hold on to me-" and
with great difficulty he raised her above
the crowd and stood her on the narrow
raj. next the water.
&c be continued